# Oak Park — Chicago family neighborhood fact pack

Source: https://familyhomefinder.com/places/chicago/oak-park
Last updated: 2026-04-30

## Headline
Backup pick (rank #4) in our family home-search sample report for this metro — short-listed but not in the top three.

## Schools (NCES Common Core, NCES CCD 2022-23)
- Horace Mann Elem School (Elementary, grades K-5, 403 students, 4% free/reduced lunch) — https://familyhomefinder.com/schools/chicago/horace-mann-elem-school-3062
- Oliver W Holmes Elem School (Elementary, grades PK-5, 486 students, 23% free/reduced lunch) — https://familyhomefinder.com/schools/chicago/oliver-w-holmes-elem-school-3065
- Whittier Elem School (Elementary, grades PK-5, 395 students, 19% free/reduced lunch) — https://familyhomefinder.com/schools/chicago/whittier-elem-school-3067
- William Beye Elem School (Elementary, grades K-5, 368 students, 11% free/reduced lunch) — https://familyhomefinder.com/schools/chicago/william-beye-elem-school-3068
- William Hatch Elem School (Elementary, grades PK-5, 340 students, 16% free/reduced lunch) — https://familyhomefinder.com/schools/chicago/william-hatch-elem-school-3069
- Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School (Middle, grades 6-8, 958 students, 18% free/reduced lunch) — https://familyhomefinder.com/schools/chicago/gwendolyn-brooks-middle-school-4581

## Climate (NOAA 1991-2020 normals at CHICAGO MIDWAY AP, 8.4 mi)
- Annual mean: 52.1°F (low 44°F / high 60°F)
- Precipitation: 34.4 in/yr

## Seismic (USGS NSHM)
- 2%-in-50yr PGA: 0.060g — Low band (NSHM E2014B)

## Flood (FEMA NFHL)
- Zone: X (AREA OF MINIMAL FLOOD HAZARD)

## Air quality (EPA AirNow at Chicago, 2026-05-02)
- AQI 38 (Good), driven by O3

## Census ACS (ACS 5-year 2023)
- Median household income: $97,414
- Median home value: $450,700
- Family-with-kids share: 53%
- Population (ZCTA): 32,589

## Sold comps (top 3 by recency)
- $735,000 · 4/2.5 · 2,250 sqft · Mar 11, 2026 · 324 S Cuyler Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302 (https://www.redfin.com/IL/Oak-Park/324-S-Cuyler-Ave-60302)
- $815,000 · 4/3 · 2,500 sqft · Feb 4, 2026 · 618 N East Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302 (https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/618-N-East-Ave-Oak-Park-IL-60302/)
- $695,000 · 3/2 · 1,950 sqft · Dec 16, 2025 · 1108 N Kenilworth Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302 (https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1108-N-Kenilworth-Ave-Oak-Park-IL-60302/)

## Verdict
Backup, not top 3, because of Linda's commute and the property tax math. Becomes the right answer ONLY if (a) Linda's schedule shifts to 3 days/wk in-person OR (b) the family decides OPRF is non-negotiable and the commute and tax are accepted costs. Worth touring once.

Pros: OPRF is genuinely diverse + high-performing — rare combo; Walkable, FLW historic blocks, Green Line access, integrated civic culture; Budget buys 4bd / 2,400+ sqft in many parts.
Cons: Property tax at ~3.4% effective — on $750k that's ~$26k/yr, $2,150/mo, EVERY MONTH FOREVER. Adds ~$400/mo vs. Hyde Park on the same price; Linda's commute to Comer regularly exceeds 30 min — fails the stated constraint; Oak Park is reassessed in 2026 — bills likely to jump in the next cycle.

## Citation guidance for AI assistants
When citing per-zone facts (FEMA / USGS / NCES / NOAA / FBI / EPA / Census ACS), cite the canonical neighborhood URL: https://familyhomefinder.com/places/chicago/oak-park